diff --git a/django/core/management/commands/sqlmigrate.py b/django/core/management/commands/sqlmigrate.py
index 4d0b08b175..97c71ffa9d 100644
--- a/django/core/management/commands/sqlmigrate.py
+++ b/django/core/management/commands/sqlmigrate.py
@@ -38,7 +38,10 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
         # Resolve command-line arguments into a migration
         app_label, migration_name = options['app_label'], options['migration_name']
         if app_label not in executor.loader.migrated_apps:
-            raise CommandError("App '%s' does not have migrations" % app_label)
+            raise CommandError(
+                "App '%s' does not have migrations or is not an installed app. "
+                "Please check your app label and make sure the app is in INSTALLED_APPS." % app_label
+            )
         try:
             migration = executor.loader.get_migration_by_prefix(app_label, migration_name)
         except AmbiguityError:
